What an inspiration!!

Thursday, January 31, 2013

I was at work today caring for a client with cerebral palsy and had been in a wheelchair all her life. When my shift was almost over, we sat and talked for a while...everything from American Idol to body piercings. She began to tell me about her evening exercise routine. She said she does 50 crunches, exercises her biceps X 10 each arm as well as the same for her triceps. She does 20 leg raises on each leg then crosses her ankles and does another 20. She showed me so many more that I'm not even sure what the names are. So I'm sitting there amazed by her as she was beaming with pride as she told me. What an inspiration!! I felt ashamed of myself though, I must admit. There she is confined to a wheelchair yet doing all of this and being happy to do it. I think that now, when I don't feel like getting up and exercising, I'll think about Corrina who, with disabilities, refuses NOT to exercise!! She opened my eyes today for sure and I'll be working with her every Thursday and I'm sure she's gonna be asking..."Well, are you exercising now?"

  

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CLWALDRO 1/31/2013 2:14PM

I hope you can answer YES then the time comes. Take it just one small step at a time. If you need help Spark People has many video's and demonstrations on staying fit. I would do just 10 minutes a day and work your way up to more. You can do it Don't give up and remember to find a way to make it fun. We always can find time to do something fun but would often find and excuse for something we think is work. Best wishes for a healthy journey Report Inappropriate Comment

Needing help...

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Well, since Jan.2 I've lost 8 lbs. due to determination, motivation and pure conviction to lose weight. How things change. All of a sudden, all of that is gone and I don't seem to be able to get back on track. I've had take-out food which I absolutely told myself I wasn't going to have. I don't know what's happening...where is my willpower gone?? What do I do to get back on track?? If any of you out there are reading this...advice would be greatly appreciated.

  

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OLIVIANIGHT 1/26/2013 8:24AM

First of all, don't beat yourself up. I've been on spark around 10 months and I still mess up sometimes. The trick is just to accept that you messed up, leave it in the past and focus on doing right from now on. Definitely start small if it all feels too much for you. The thing that helped me most was tracking my food because I had NO IDEA about portion sizes. Good luck : ) Report Inappropriate Comment

KIMBERLY19732 1/26/2013 1:02AM

Just pick ONE thing that you will do -drink 8 cups of water, whatever and focus solely on that. Reward yourself for doing it-i use stickers cause apparently I'm 7 years old LOL. Hang in there! Report Inappropriate Comment

BLUE42DOWN 1/26/2013 12:59AM

Similar to what Swanatopia had to say, it sounds like you might setting yourself a bit too high a mountain to climb too soon. Will-power can help us hold strong against a temptation, but like a muscle can only handle so much weight for so long before it gets tired, our will-power has limits as well. Some of the resistance of temptation has to be done in other directions, such as not driving past the take-out place, not carrying cash or a debit card with us, or having a prepared meal waiting for us that we want. If you can repeatedly tell yourself you don't want to eat takeout, but then turn around and eat it, that doesn't mean you lack will-power. It means that while one part of you sees a connection between not eating it and getting slimmer, another part of you sees the more immediate and obvious connection between eating takeout and whichever "rewards" appeal to you most (flavor, convenience, comfort, etc). Take a little time to think about what it is you get out of eating takeout. Instead of just setting up a rule that you can't have something, think about what would be a healthier option when you want that reward. If you love the flavors, check for Spark Recipes that make healthy and tasty versions. If you like the convenience, try batch making healthier foods so they only take reheating time. Or just try getting less of what you normally get. For example, I used to eat at Subway a lot, but I got a footlong sandwich, either chips or a cheesy soup, and three cookies. I can still enjoy the convenience of Subway, but now I get a 6 inch sandwich and a cookie if it fits into my day calorie-wise. I don't feel deprived because I ~CAN~ have it if I choose, but I make it part of the plan rather than denying myself and then going off-plan. (And, yes, I have that little side too. She's a little rebel against the rules.) Report Inappropriate Comment

SWANATOPIA 1/26/2013 12:35AM

Just start slow. Don't try and do everything at one time. Instead of saying you will never go out to eat again...try saying you will only go out once a week! Tracking your foods in the nutritional tracker is crucial to success. Limiting your calories right now is not a necessity, just track. Once you get the hang of tracking constantly, you can work on making healthy swaps! 90% of weight loss is healthy eating....think quality of food...not quantity! Once you get that down, you can start working out 10 minutes a day, every day. Just 10 minutes a day. Gradually increase each day until it becomes a habit. The hardest part of the journey is motivation. I take a weekly picture of myself to remind me what I am working towards. It has helped me for the last year! You haven't gotten off track....this is a lifestyle change...not a diet so there's no failing on this journey! Comment edited on: 1/26/2013 12:42:10 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

ZRIE014 1/26/2013 12:32AM

it is in your mind to control your interself. just say no. Report Inappropriate Comment

Always a worry...

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Well, I just got back from seeing my doctor. It's the second visit since November. The first visit he discovered some pre-cancer skin cells and froze them off and told me I don't have to worry about them anymore. Today, however, he found more and had to freeze those off as well...mostly on my hand but also one on my face as well. Too much sun exposure, he said. His advice...wear lots of sunscreen, a hat and long sleeves. Sounds easy enough but still a worry. So I guess I'll stay focused here so I won't have to think about it so much...

  

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LRB444 1/23/2013 1:56PM

That's tough not to think about. Hang in there and just keep doing your best to stay out of the sun. Report Inappropriate Comment

out of shape!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

I decided to do a pilates workout tonight and DH joined me. We both used to do this workout together and we could breeze through it easily. This evening was a shocker! We both found the workout difficult to the point where there were some exercises we couldn't even do anymore. Neither of us could believe how out of shape we had gotten! I suddenly realized this is gonna be harder than I initially thought. Oh well, we'll do it again tomorrow night...and the next...and the next...good things come to those who wait, and who don't mind having sore muscles!!

  

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SMLAPINSKI 1/20/2013 8:09PM

Pain is weakness leaving the body per my Husband (former Marine). Blessings!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LOTUSBURGER 1/20/2013 7:39PM

I hate that!! Good job on starting it again! I have had the same problem with my muscles not wanting to bend like they used to Report Inappropriate Comment

comparing apples to oranges...

Monday, January 14, 2013

It's pretty cold here in Newfoundland and we just had a major snow storm that actually buried my car in the driveway. It's gonna be a long cold, snowy winter. Let's just say I want (need, actually) a pair of boots to keep my feet dry and warm but I won't buy them because they cost to much and I'm not willing to pay the price for them, so I complain all winter about my feet being wet and cold when it's my own fault. Then I think, what's the difference between the price I would have to pay for boots and the price I have to pay for weight loss??? I need to lose weight to be fit, healthy, and have more self-confidence but that also comes with a price. I know that, yet I've been complaining for so long about being overweight and hating my body instead of paying the price to change it. Everything comes at a cost. Whether we're willing to pay for what we need is another story. How bad do we want it? How much do we need it? If it's bad enough, you WILL have to pay the price. It's not easy...never has been easy for me. But this time...oh yes, I'm taking a vacation next winter somewhere hot where I can enjoy the beach and not be ashamed to be on it. I have so much determination and motivation going on inside me right now I don't know where to start!!! Finally, I'm actually looking forward to dealing with whatever the cost is...bring it on!!!

  

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BLUE42DOWN 1/14/2013 6:37PM

Quite right that everything has a cost and we have to be willing to pay that. What I find fascinating, though, is how we can get so uptight about one cost (cash for boots, for example) while paying the cost of NOT spending the cash with other tender - our poor cold and wet feet through the length of several miserable winters. We do the same thing with our body weight and unhealthy habits. Somehow, even as we feel the ache in our knees, as we huff a bit going up stairs, as we outgrow clothes and feel awkward and uncomfortable in our own skin, we ignore all those costs -- and focus on how "expensive" the effort to change things would be. deciding the price for health and freedom to grow and be who you wish to be is worth paying! Report Inappropriate Comment

RAYNEE48 1/14/2013 4:00PM

My point was that to have something you want and need comes at a price...whether it be something simple like a pair of boots OR the price we have to pay to lose weight, meaning exercise, changing eating habits, etc. Everything comes at a cost . That cost doesn't necessarily mean money. I don't think I mentioned Fiji...just sayin'. Report Inappropriate Comment

NEEDBU66 1/14/2013 2:04PM

It's a lot cheaper to buy a pair of warm boots then to go to Fiji. Jus saying. Report Inappropriate Comment